Straddle the thin, frayed line between mass appeal and eclectic tastes with Theatre Artists Workshop 2nd Annual Playwright’s FRINGE festival.
Friday,June 24th at 8pm, Saturday, June 25th 8pm, and Sunday, 26th at 3pm
at 5 Gregory Blvd, Norwalk, CT.
Each of the 12 selections to be performed are creations of TAW member playwrights and/or performance artists. They are supported by the highly professional actors and directors from within the TAW membership. It is exploration and process where excellence is a given.
The first TAW FRINGE festival took place last year. It was only a matter of time before Vanessa David, a member playwright, actress, director and visionary wondered how she could bring newer works to the group. David is a Stamford resident became frustrated when her off-beat, but thoroughly innovative plays, were continuously turned down for productions. FRINGE plays are not dream roles for actors.
“My Big Bang moment of creativity was fueled by my indignation but my peers came through,” she said. The resulting creative universe expanded when the Board of Directors supported my questioning about how plays are chosen for the few times the TAW group opens its productions up to the public. They nobly took up her challenge to explore uncharted territory. They charged her with launching this festival. Change came happily from within.
And what an undaunted leader David has been. This year there are 12 very different onstage performances: Poetry. Movement. A delicious 10-minute mystery. A “Mockumentary,” a whacky dramatized headline, scientifically grounded news article. Plus a five-page play that grew from a regular TAW Monday night meeting where a one word prompt elicits drama for the stage the following week.
Since 1983 TAW theater professionals, actors, directors, and writers have been honing their craft with one another in a safe theatrical gymnasium, only presenting works to the public that had been vetted through serious master class refinement with members of the group. Many of whom have recognizable star names. The group was founded by Keir Dullea and his wife, Susie Fuller, who came back from L.A., with the blueprint for how to run a successful workshop of peers. While it was started in Westport and moved a few times, settling into the perfect Black Box space in the Masonic Church in Norwalk gave the group roots plus a stage and tech to hold onto. This is a rare venue in southwestern CT.
“Most people at TAW have at least six occupations that they list about themselves, and you can guess the reason why. All of us still play the Lotto or should,” said Duncan Christy, a playwright and musician who lives in New York, but finds his way to Norwalk for the extra jolt of creative spark to try things out in a safe space.
“A brand new member, Cathy Szabo adds an element of song to the FRINGE. She will be accompanied by PJ Letersky, a long time member,” says David.
"When we can bring together so many facets of performing and writing on one stage we have succeeded in creating something unique. That's the point,” says David.
Theatre Artist Workshop Membership is open to professional actors, writers and directors. Admission is by audition, script submission or by a substantial body of recognized professional work. Associate and Apprentice memberships are also available for those who are on their way to a professional career in theatre.
• The Agreement - Written by Jim Gordon (East Norwalk, CT), Cast: Allan Zeller (Milford, CT), Kim Squires (Milford, CT)
• Baroque Dating Service - Written by Rosemary Foley (Bridgeport, CT), Directed by P.J. Letersky (Westport, CT), Cast: Allan Zeller (Milford, CT), Kimberly Squires (Milford, CT)
• Curtain - Written by Duncan Christy (New York, NYSzab), Directed by Duncan Christy & Mark Hamilton, Cast: Stephanie Hazard (New Canaan, CT), Mark Hamilton (New Haven, CT)
• The Difference - Written by Jack Rushton (Newbery, MA), Directed by Melody James (Westport, CT), Cast: Stephanie Hazard (New Canaan, CT), Jason Peck (New Canaan, CT)
• The Fan -Written by Sari Bodi (Westport CT), Directed by Allan Zeller (Milford, CT), Cast: Carolyn Marble (Ridgefield, CT), Allan Zeller (Milford, CT)
• Forever and Always - Written by Susan Jacobson (Westport, CT), Cast: Susan Jacobson (Westport, CT), Betty Jinnette (Norwalk, CT)
• Intrusion - Written and performed by Amy Oestreicher (Westport, CT), Directed by Ina Chadwick (Westport, CT)
• One Bad Day - Written by Ina Chadwick (Westport, CT), Directed by Gary Betsworth (Weston, CT), Cast: Gary Betsworth (Weston, CT), PJ Letersky (Westport, CT), Holly Fasciano, (Milford, CT), Sachi Parker (New York, NY), ArinMaclaine (New York, NY)
• Reminiscences - Written by Laura Warfield (Fairfield, CT), Directed by Donald Warfield (Fairfield, CT), Cast: Laura Warfield, Susan Gordon-Clark (New York, NY), Jo Anne Parady (Southport, CT)
• Single Shopper on a Saturday - Written by Vanessa David (Stamford, CT), Directed by Jo Anne Parady (Southport, CT), Cast: Carolyn Marble (Ridgefield, CT)
• Taurus Rising - Written by Gary Betsworth (Weston, CT), Cast: Gary Betsworth (Weston, CT), Sachi Parker (New York, NY), P.J. Letersky (Westport, CT)
If you’d like to know more about how to join our group, click on Contact Us, or simply download the TAW Application form and follow the directions.
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Contact TAW : http://www.taworkshop.org/contact/
TAW Application Form : http://www.taworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/TAWmember_app.pdf
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